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Hand Lettering Jobs in Oakland, CA (NOW HIRING)

... lettering and decorations on surfaces. • Follow defined instructions and procedures in ... hand tools and power tools • Follow prescribed safety rules and regulations and maintain safe ...

Hand Lettering information

See Oakland, CA salary details

$11

$19

$27

How much do hand lettering jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average hourly pay for hand lettering in Oakland, CA is $19.97, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.59 and $22.36 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is hand lettering?

Hand lettering is the art of drawing letters by hand, rather than using pre-existing fonts or typefaces. Unlike traditional calligraphy, which relies on specific strokes and tools, hand lettering focuses on creating custom letterforms and unique designs for each piece. Artists often use pencils, pens, markers, or brushes to craft decorative words or phrases for things like signs, invitations, logos, and artwork. Hand lettering allows for a high level of creativity and personalization, making each project unique.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a hand lettering artist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Hand Lettering Artist, you need a strong foundation in typography, drawing skills, and design principles, often supported by a portfolio of creative work. Familiarity with digital illustration tools like Adobe Illustrator, Procreate, and traditional materials such as brush pens and paper is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and patience are essential soft skills for producing unique and polished lettering pieces. These skills and qualities are important because they enable artists to create visually appealing and professional work that meets client or project needs.

What are some common challenges hand lettering artists face when working on client projects?

Hand lettering artists often encounter challenges such as interpreting a client's vision accurately, managing revisions, and meeting tight deadlines. Balancing creative expression with brand guidelines or specific client requirements can be demanding. Additionally, hand letterers must ensure their work translates well across various mediums, such as digital and print, which sometimes requires adapting their techniques or using specialized software.

What is the difference between Hand Lettering vs Calligraphy?

AspectHand LetteringCalligraphy
Skills & TechniquesDrawing and designing custom letterforms by hand, often with digital toolsCreating decorative, stylized writing with specific brush or pen strokes
Tools & MaterialsPencils, markers, digital tabletsBrush pens, dip pens, ink
Work EnvironmentDesign studios, freelance, digital platformsArt studios, wedding invitations, formal events
Industry UsageBranding, logos, custom artworkWedding invitations, certificates, formal documents

While both Hand Lettering and Calligraphy involve beautiful lettering, Hand Lettering focuses on creating custom letterforms through drawing and design, often combining digital and traditional tools. Calligraphy emphasizes stylized writing with specific strokes and tools, typically used for formal or decorative writing. Understanding these differences helps clients choose the right artist for their project.

What are popular job titles related to Hand Lettering jobs in Oakland, CA?

For Hand Lettering jobs in Oakland, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Hand Lettering jobs in Oakland, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Hand Lettering jobs in Oakland, CA are:

What cities near Oakland, CA are hiring for Hand Lettering jobs?

Cities near Oakland, CA with the most Hand Lettering job openings:

Infographic showing various Hand Lettering job openings in Oakland, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 78% Full Time, and 22% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $41,544 per year, or $20 per hour.

Painter - Marine Operations

Hornblower

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$31 - $35/hr

Full-time

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.


Hornblower rating

6.6

Company rating: 6.6 out of 10

Based on 18 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 9 rated cruise lines


Job description

Hornblower Group is a global leader in experience and transportation. Spanning a 100-year history, Hornblower Group's portfolio of international offerings includes water- and land-based experiences and ferry and transportation services. City Experiences, Hornblower Group's premier experience division, offers dining and sightseeing cruises and walking and food tours through the City Cruises, Walks, and Devour brands. City Ferry, part of Hornblower Group's Ferry and Transportation Division, is the largest private operator of high-speed passenger and vehicle ferries in the United States, carrying more than 10 million passengers annually and operating services including NYC Ferry, Puerto Rico Ferry, and other regional ferry systemsHornblower Group's subsidiaries include Hornblower Marine, which provides vessel outhaul and maintenance services at Bridgeport Boatworks in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Seaward Services, Inc., a full-service shipping, waterfront logistics and management company that specializes in the operation and maintenance of government and commercial vessels. Additionally, Anchor Operating System, LLC, a Hornblower Group subsidiary and independent entity, provides reservation, ticketing and website integration services for clients in the transportation, tourism and entertainment industries. Today, Hornblower Group's global portfolio covers over 10 countries, over 50 U.S. cities and serves more than 20 million guests annually. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Hornblower Group's additional corporate offices reside in San Francisco, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; London, United Kingdom; New York, New York; Dublin, Ireland; and across Ontario, Canada. For more information, visit hornblowercorp.com.
Position Summary:
This position works in a shipyard setting to lead painting activities of exterior of vessels, equipment, and other materials and on-site facilities.
The right person will be adaptable, dynamic, and embody Hornblower's RESPECT SERVICE SYSTEM.
Duties and Responsibilities:
• Prepares wood, metal, fiberglass, or other surfaces for painting.
• Tape or otherwise protect surrounding surfaces such as decks, hardware, windows during work process.
• Cleans, sands, and smooth surfaces, using appropriate tools, such as scrapers, sandpaper, steel wool, or chemicals.
• May perform small repairs to surfaces to be painted using appropriate materials and tools.
• Applies coats of paint, stain, enamel, or lacquer, as appropriate, to decorate and protect interior and exterior surfaces, trimmings, and fixtures of boats.
• Calculate and measure coating application over other paints and surfaces, cure time, temperature/humidity, and film thickness requirements
• Applying nonskid in a uniform pattern meeting application, technical, and millage requirements.
• Washes and treats surfaces with oil, turpentine, and other preparations
• Brushes and rubs filler material into grained wood to prepare surfaces for painting.
• Mixes and matches colors of paint, varnish, stain, shellac, and calcimine.
• Operates spray painting equipment or brushes or rolls paint on surfaces.
• Sands surfaces between coats and polishes final coat to specified finish.
• Spray or brush hot plastics or pitch on surfaces.
• Cuts stencils, and brush or spray lettering and decorations on surfaces.
• Follow defined instructions and procedures in performance of tasks.
• Sets up and dismantles staging following OSHA staging guidelines.
• Assists with general operations of the yard, including but not limited to:
• Removal of vessels from water using movable lift crane
• Moving vessels in the yard
• Positioning and securing blocking at the bottom and sides of the vessel according to size, weight, and weight distribution of vessels, using fasteners, hand tools and power tools
• Follow prescribed safety rules and regulations and maintain safe, clean work area.
• Conduct yourself with a positive and contagious attitude for others to emulate.
• Able to work cooperatively with other department personnel.
• Keep the Project Supervisor and others informed about project status and issues that may impact client relations.
• Holds yourself and all employees accountable to the Environmental, Safety and Quality Respect and SMS systems of the organization and to work closely with the Manager of ISO/Respect &Training to implement such systems, plans and control of records and documentation.
• Travel to project sites within Northern California.
• Other Duties as assigned.
Requirements & Qualifications:
• 2+ years of experience as a commercial painter• Must have experience working in the marine or construction field• Experience working on construction sites and with power tools
• Knowledge of construction site best practices and safety procedures
• Knowledge and experience working with basic hand and power tools including, but not limitedto sandpapers, paintbrushes, cleaning agents, tapes, grinders, surface sanders, DA and block sanders,polishers.
• Skilled in reading and interpreting blueprints
• Proven Leadership and Organizational skills
• Experience working in a team and operational environment
• Valid driver's license
• Ability to travel to jobs at different sites
• Must thrive in a fast-paced environment
The RESPECT Service System embodies our mission, vision, values and operating principles. By creating a company culture that puts RESPECT at its core, we believe it will drive us to achieve our goal of becoming a Global Experiences and Transportation Leader.
EEO / Disabled / Protected Veteran Employer. Hornblower is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We offer equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and prohibit discrimination and/or harassment of any type, including but not limited to discrimination and or harassment based upon race, religion, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, pregnancy or relation medical conditions, childbirth, breastfeeding, parental status, veteran and/or military status, disability (physical or mental), medical condition, genetic information or characteristics, political affiliation, domestic violence survivor status, marital status, or other characteristics prohibited by federal, state, or local law. Additionally, as a federal, state, and local contractor, Hornblower complies with government regulations, including affirmative action responsibilities for qualified individuals, where and as they apply. The company also participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations.

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